whiskey

Old Blowhard 26 Year Old Bourbon Review

Diageo introduced a new line of whiskies – Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company.  Its purpose is to release rare and old whiskies from its stocks.  The first two releases, Old Blowhard and Barterhouse, have recently hit shelves, with more releases planned for later this year.

(Disclaimer:  I was sent small review samples of both Old Blowhard and Barterhouse from Diageo.)  This review will cover Old Blowhard.

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Old Blowhard bourbon was aged for 26 years.  I was in third grade when this was distilled.  Yikes!  Before I get into how it tastes, I want to talk about packaging.  Like I said in a previous post, the most important aspect of a whiskey is how it tastes and smells.  However, packaging plays a small but important factor.  If you go to a liquor store and browse the shelves, a bottle’s shape and label can draw you in or get lost on the shelf.  Old Blowhard’s old-time inspired label is among my favorites.  It’s a gorgeous nautical-themed label affixed to an elegant bottle.   So, how does this 26 year old 90.7 proof whiskey taste?

Oaky.  Then again, you have to expect that from a whiskey this old.  It’s not all oak, though.  There’s some faint caramel when you smell it, but it’s hiding behind oak.  There’s some depth in flavor here. It’s rich and a little spicy.  There’s a little sweetness.  Not caramel-sweet…  more like dried fruit sweet. It’s definitely not your average bourbon.  The finish is quick and dry.  No slow burn here.  I really wish it lasted longer.

I like this whiskey.  So much in fact that I decided to treat myself to a bottle.  I went to three different liquor stores before I found one and picked it up $20 cheaper than the suggested retail price of $150.  There are older and more expensive bourbons out there (Pappy Van Winkle 23 and Jefferson’s Presidential Reserve 30 year), so Old Blowhard is cheaper in comparison. However, $150 is still pretty pricey.  Note, all three stores I visited did not have them on the shelf.  You’ll probably have to ask for it.

Tasting Old Blowhard was an interesting and pleasant experience.  It’s the oldest whiskey I’ve tasted (remember, I’m still new to the game).   I’ll gladly go back to Old Blowhard again.  Not too often though – once this release of Old Blowhard is gone, that’s it.   Get it while you can if you’ve got some spare cash and are looking for an older, occasional sipper.  Have you tasted Old Blowhard?  Share your thoughts below.

8.5/10

Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey Review

A few weeks ago I attended an event at the Renaissance New Orleans Art Hotel.  A buddy offered to buy me a drink, and after scanning the bar my eyes landed on an almost empty bottle of Eagle Rare.  Bullseye.  The bartender poured the rest in a glass (nearly an ounce) and handed it to me.  I tasted Eagle Rare a few years earlier at another event, but didn’t care for it much.  This time, however, I found it quite enjoyable.

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Eagle Rare is a 10 year old single barrel bourbon from Buffalo Trace, which means there will be variances from barrel to barrel.  Unfortunately, I don’t see a barrel designation on the label.  That means if  you like what you taste, rush to the store where you bought this and pick up another bottle or two, because there’s a better chance those bottles are from the same barrel.

My pour of Eagle Rare at the hotel impressed my friend Jeremy, who took a small taste from my glass.  It’s 90 proof, smells sweet and oaky, and that’s what I tasted.   Eagle Rare smells sweeter than it tastes, but that corn is there somewhere.  There’s also lots of wood.  It makes for an “earthier” tasting bourbon.  The wood doesn’t overpower everything.  It helps keep all the flavors more towards the balanced side of things.

I really like this bourbon.  So much in fact that I picked up the last bottle on the shelf at a high end liquor store in the New Orleans area for $28.  When I get around to opening that, I’ll post any differences between the new bottle and the bar pour right here on Adventures In Whiskey.  BTW, this looks to be the same slender bottles Buffalo Trace uses in their Antique Collection.  Simple and classic.  Have you tried Eagle Rare?  If so, comment below and share your thoughts.

The Eagle has landed  8.0/10

Bulleit Bourbon Review

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You’ve seen the bottle on the shelf.  The great looking one that belongs on the set of the long-gone HBO show “Deadwood.”  Nothing says Old West like Bulleit Bourbon.  BTW, the “i” in bulleit is silent.

Bulleit Bourbon is a NDP (Non-Distiller Producer) bourbon owned by Diageo.  Huh?  It means Diageo doesn’t distill this bourbon.  Instead, they purchase, age, and bottle it.  Apparently Bulleit is distilled at Four Roses, and word around the campfire is they are going to stop distilling Bulleit this year.   What does that mean for you?  Nothing, at least for the next 4-6 years.  See, if Four Roses stops distilling Bulleit this year, then Diageo will find someone who will.  It’ll take 4-6 years of the new distillate to age and make it to your supermarket shelves.

If you read a lot of bourbon blogs or forums, you’ll see there’s lots of negative attitude towards NDP bourbons.  You see, a lot of NDP bourbons don’t list who actually distills the whiskey, and people want to know who makes the stuff.  I get people’s frustrations, but who makes the bourbon isn’t as important as how it tastes.

So how is it in your glass?  One word:  spicy.  Not a tongue-tingling spicy like Noah’s Mill or Booker’s gives you.  Those are barrel-strength.  Bulleit Bourbon is 90 proof.  It’s more like a little bit of cinnamon spicy.  There’s lots of rye in the mash bill.  A quick search says as much as 28% rye.  It’s not completely one sided, however.  Like most, if not all, bourbons, there’s some sweetness there. I find the sweetness really comes out in the finish.  It’s a great “everyday” bourbon.  Because of the spiciness, I like this one in cocktails, especially an Old Fashioned.

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You can probably find this around the $25 range.  It’s readily available.  Bulleit also offers a rye whisky and a 10 year old bourbon.  I’ll get to those soon enough.

A great mid-tier bourbon.  8/10